Virender Sehwag hit an unbeaten 99 to propel India to a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka Monday with more than 15 overs left in a one-day international match in the tri-series. India bowled out Sri Lanka for 170 in 46 overs and reached 171-4 in 34.3 overs at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. The match ended in controversy when offspinner Suraj Randiv bowled a no-ball to concede the winning run, denying Sehwag a century despite the batsmen hitting a six when the scores were level. The laws of cricket first counts the extra run for a no-ball. Sehwag later accused Randiv of bowling the no-ball deliberately. “No team wants a batsman score a century against them, so they did it,” said man of the Match Sehwag. “They are happy and we are happy because we won the match.” Sehwag hit 11 boundaries and two sixes in 100 balls. He shared a 59-run partnership with Suresh Raina to lift India from 32-3, and later shared an unbroken 80-run stand for the fifth wicket with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made 23. Earlier, India spinner Pragyan Ojha took three wickets to help bowl out Sri Lanka for 170. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first but seamer Praveen Kumar clean bowled Tharanga first ball, and India took wickets consistently to build on the early success. Sangakkara was out for 2 when he skied a shot off seamer Ashish Nehra to Ojha, and Kumar returned to trap Mahela Jayawardene lbw for 4. Ishant Sharma had Thilan Samaraweera caught by Ravindra Jadeja for 7 to leave Sri Lanka on 44-4. Tillakaratne Dilshan was the only top-order batsman to look comfortable, scoring 45, including five boundaries. He was out caught by Rohit Sharma to an ambitious shot off Ojha. Randiv added a valuable 43 at the tail and was last man out. He shared the best partnership of the innings, 39, with Nuwan Kulasekara, who made 22. Ojha was the best bowler with 3-36, while Ishant Sharma and Jadeja also took two wickets each. New Zealand and Sri Lanka also have one win each in two matches.
